Basterds!

Beating even the most optimistic predictions, Quentin Tarantino’s Nazi-killing comedy Inglourious Basterds scalped its way to the top of the box office this weekend, scoring an estimated $37.6 million domestic and $65.1 million worldwide — terrific news for both the Weinstein Company, which just last week was in its death throes (they’ll split half the overall gross with Universal, but still), and Brad Pitt, one of the few stars of summer 2009 who might not have to lower his asking price. This is Tarantino’s best-ever opening and might even bode well for that Basterds prequel, if we thought he were actually serious about it. [DHD]